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26/04/2010
Ed Ball Fined For Using Mobile While Driving
Ed Balls has been fined for talking on his mobile phone while driving as his children slept in the back seat.
The Children's Secretary was given three points on his licence and a £60 fine.
Mr Balls, married to fellow minister Yvette Cooper, told the Daily Mirror the incident happened last Sunday as they drove from Yorkshire to London.
He took the phone off its hands-free cradle because he did not want to wake his children, he said - and was spotted by police "almost immediately".
Helen Mervill, of road safety group Brake, condemned his actions and the level of penalty imposed. She said: "By picking up his mobile phone, Ed Balls put his own, his children's and other road users' lives as risk.
"The penalty of a £60 fine and three points on his licence is little more than a slap on the wrist."
Mr Balls said:"I 100% support the law on mobile phones - it's there to protect the safety of all drivers, passengers and pedestrians."
Mr Balls is contesting the new seat of Morley and Outwood for Labour. Other candidates are Chris Beverley, British National Party; Antony Calvert, Conservative; David Daniel, UKIP; James Monaghan, Liberal Democrats.
(LB/GK)
The Children's Secretary was given three points on his licence and a £60 fine.
Mr Balls, married to fellow minister Yvette Cooper, told the Daily Mirror the incident happened last Sunday as they drove from Yorkshire to London.
He took the phone off its hands-free cradle because he did not want to wake his children, he said - and was spotted by police "almost immediately".
Helen Mervill, of road safety group Brake, condemned his actions and the level of penalty imposed. She said: "By picking up his mobile phone, Ed Balls put his own, his children's and other road users' lives as risk.
"The penalty of a £60 fine and three points on his licence is little more than a slap on the wrist."
Mr Balls said:"I 100% support the law on mobile phones - it's there to protect the safety of all drivers, passengers and pedestrians."
Mr Balls is contesting the new seat of Morley and Outwood for Labour. Other candidates are Chris Beverley, British National Party; Antony Calvert, Conservative; David Daniel, UKIP; James Monaghan, Liberal Democrats.
(LB/GK)
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